I looked out the window. The glittering lights spilling from buildings and cars blended with the rippling river, showing off a beauty like a masterpiece painting.
“This time Jihoon got accepted to Hanguk University, right? Chairman Do must be thrilled.”
If I’d known this was what the damn December 31st appointment was about, I would’ve done whatever it took to run away.
“Oh my, thrilled? He’s only just taken his first step. But I hear Yuri is also a student at Hanguk University?”
“That’s right. It just so happens the kids got into the same school. I suppose this is what you call fate.”
The corners of my mouth, strained into a polite smile, twitched. Elegantly slicing my steak, I looked at the insanely handsome bastard sitting across from me.
Do Jihoon even had perfect table manners. The straight back, the way he handled his knife. I guess if you’re going to be the main gong, you need to be at least that polished.
Both that bastard and I were suffering like hell. What the hell kind of situation was this at the happy end of the year, just as we were becoming adults? This was basically a formal meeting between families.
I shot a glare at my older sister beside me. Then our eyes met. She raised an eyebrow as if to say, Oh? and I had no choice but to shrivel up and lower my head again.
“Then the two of them can live together!”
What kind of insane nonsense was that?! The steak I was chewing almost slid down the wrong pipe; I barely stopped it and stared at my mother in horror.
“That’s true. They’re adults now, and both the school and home are far. It would be good for them to live together.”
Jihoon’s mother chimed in, fanning the flames of the burning house. I desperately searched for a way to escape this atrocious situation.
“…Mother. Yuri looks uncomfortable.”
Then, an unexpected voice rang out. Do Jihoon, who had been sitting like a plaster statue in front of me, finally opened his mouth.
At his words, both sets of parents turned to look at me.
“Is that true, Yuri?”
Jihoon had laid the board; now it was my turn to beat the drum. I lowered my head deeply and let my eyelashes tremble delicately—so I’d look like a fragile omega frightened by the word cohabitation.
“Ah… yes. I haven’t even talked much with Jihoon yet… Living together… I think that might be a bit too soon. Would it be okay if we think about it while attending university?”
At my cautious words, Jihoon’s parents waved their hands and said it was fine, that it really was too early, comforting me warmly. My parents and my sister looked at me as if I were a cockroach that had started talking.
“Thank you, Mother, Father. It’s still a bit awkward, so… I’m sorry.”
With that, I gave a small smile, and praise about me poured out from Jihoon’s parents.
“Yuri has grown up so upright.”
They said how wonderfully their son had been raised, how fortunate my parents were to have such an omega son in this day and age. My parents simply wore perfect public-facing smiles.
The two families shifted the conversation to business. I gently closed my ears, feeling like I was listening to an alien language. A science-track commoner like me, who’d lived a damn ordinary life, couldn’t understand a word.
After some time passed, it was time to wrap up. Just as I naturally began to stand, my mother lightly pressed down on my shoulder. The same went for Jihoon. Looking at our parents with a wary expression, they said,
“You’re going to be engaged soon, so you should get closer. Chairman Do and his wife and we will head out first, so talk with Jihoon and come later.”
“Dad, be honest. You picked me up off the street, didn’t you?”
Whether I glared viciously or not, my parents simply smiled kindly and left with Jihoon’s parents.
Only Do Jihoon and I were left blankly sitting in the lounge room of the KP Hotel. I swallowed and alternated between staring out the window, at the table, and at the ceiling.
“Sorry for the late greeting. Nice to meet you. I’m Do Jihoon.”
At the sudden voice, I had no choice but to look at him. Our eyes met—pretty black irises. Fuck. He’s insanely handsome… I swallowed the curse that nearly slipped out. When I didn’t respond, Jihoon awkwardly opened his mouth again.
“Hmm… Was that too awkward? Actually, we’ve run into each other several times before. We just never talked.”
“Yeah.”
The main gong even had a good voice. How could someone who was still technically a minor have such a deep, low voice? Fortunately, his pheromones were neatly contained. I hated to admit it, but Do Jihoon’s pheromones were very effective on Yeon Yuri.
“But you’re a good actor.”
His calm voice flowed out. He said it so evenly that I couldn’t tell if he was mocking me or genuinely impressed.
“…What?”
“That fragile omega act. My parents love that kind of omega.”
“I’m genuinely curious. Are you being sarcastic right now?”
“No. I’m just amazed. Everyone at our school knows the rumors about you. Same goes for the parents.”
“…What rumors?”
“The rumor that you really love to party. And that you got into Hanguk University through the international admissions track.”
I wasn’t even sure where to start being shocked. No wonder my parents looked so moved every time I picked up a book at home. I really did get into Hanguk University through something practically like the lawn admission track. Pure luck.
And that I liked to party. What the hell did I do for that rumor to spread throughout the entire school?
“Do Jihoon. You know this is our first conversation, right?”
“Of course I know.”
And yet this bastard—
“But you’re spilling all sorts of things? Are you talking shit to my face right now?”
“Isn’t it better than talking behind your back?”
His shameless reply left my mouth hanging open. Meanwhile, he was even sipping his drink.
Was this how Yeon Yuri and Do Jihoon’s first meeting originally went? I distinctly remember that Jihoon was overly polite and that Yuri felt offended.
But damn it, this was offensive in a different way. He was right—but in a way that made me want to punch him.
Jihoon reached out and personally closed my open jaw, then continued.
“Try to understand. I don’t know when you heard about the engagement, but I heard just yesterday. That I’m getting engaged to you—someone who doesn’t discriminate between alphas and betas.”
“…”
“Oh dear. You look parched. It’s a non-alcoholic cocktail. It’s sweet and tasty, so try it.”
He pushed the drink he’d been sipping toward me. The clear smile on his face and the crap coming out of his mouth absolutely did not match. Was this a dream? I even wondered that.
“…Hey.”
“Yeah?”
“It seems like we don’t particularly like each other.”
Leaning back in my chair, I crossed my arms and glared at him.
“We still have to get married.”
“I’m surprised you’re aware of that.”
“You little—. Fine. Guess your brain works fast since you actually got into Hanguk University properly, unlike me.”
The back of my neck felt stiff. After stretching my head to the side, it eased a bit.
“It’s an agreement between companies, so let’s get married.”
“‘Let’s get married’? Interesting choice of words.”
“Yeah. And we don’t interfere with whoever the other dates.”
At my words, Jihoon lightly tapped the table with his finger. He thought for a moment, then crooked one corner of his mouth in a slanted smile.
“Would that be possible? You and I are more in the spotlight than you think. If an affair gets exposed, we’re finished.”
“Drop that condescending look. Just invite them over to the house. Your lover pretends to be my friend, my lover pretends to be your friend. How’s that? And what era do you think this is? If we get caught, we just insist they’re friends. No one’s going to point fingers at an alpha and an omega for being close friends.”
Jihoon smiled as if he found me admirable. It was annoyingly handsome for no reason. Handsome, yet pretty. Is that what they mean by handsome-pretty? If he weren’t the novel’s main gong and didn’t have such a rotten personality, I might’ve liked him.
…Hate to admit it, but his scent was my type too.
“…Not bad. But you know.”
Suddenly, Jihoon leaned his face in close. My entire field of vision filled with his handsome face. As if he’d deliberately released it, a faint sunlight scent spread sharply at the tip of my nose.
Come here. Come to me and let me hold you. His pheromones were saying exactly that.
My mind grew hazy. I could feel the strength draining from my wide-open eyes. My body moved on its own—toward Jihoon’s well of pheromones. The warm scent grew closer and closer. Just as I was about to bury my nose into his neck—
I heard the sound of him snickering right by my ear. I snapped back to my senses. Jerking my head away, I glared at him as if I could burn him alive.
